Plumes of smoke billowed out with each shot, and the soldiers yelled with delight as they watched their opponents fall to the ground. Other soldiers rode through the battlefield on horseback and engaged each other with swords, while others still fired cannons. All relished in the thrill of the fight.

The combat lasted about an hour before the Confederates overcame the Union troops, forcing them over a hill just as it happened on that very battlefield in 1864 during the Civil War. Only this time no one really died and nothing was really lost.

This was a historical reenactment.

Authentic Reproduction

The Civil War reenactors began arriving for the Battle of New Market on a Friday and prepared for a weekend stay. They set up their white primitive canvas tents on either side of the field and stoked campfires as rain poured down.

The next morning, the sun shone bright. The reenactors put on period clothing that included Union and Confederate military uniforms for the men and women in the armies and full-length dresses for the civilian women. The children also donned outfits reminiscent of the 1800s.

A confederate reenactor makes his was through camp on the first day of the event.